With new developments in instrument technology, the prominence of more technical playing styles, and players’ desire for lighter, more portable instruments, today’s headless guitars are pushing far beyond designs of the past. However, even with all these advancements, Ibanez still saw an exciting opportunity in this space. The Q or Quest series is an entirely new concept for Ibanez. The “Quest” in this case was to not just to adapt an existing instrument into a headless design, but to develop an entirely new guitar from the ground up. This range features a number of unique elements intended to maximize tone, performance, and playing comfort. These include, custom designed R1 single coil and Q58 humbucker pickups, a new Mono-Tune bridge, and a proprietary custom string locking mechanism. The QX subseries is also equipped with innovative 8-degree inward slanted frets, uniquely tailoring their ergonomics to the benefit of highly technical players. Ultimately, this series offers a diverse and versatile enough feature set to attract not only the modern, technical guitarist, but also players who may have never even considered a headless guitar before. Regardless of genre, Q (Quest) allows guitarists of every background to question the full scope of their creative possibilities.  ‌

Features

Parallel Wizard 3pc Roasted Maple/Bubinga neck

The Parallel Wizard neck is 19mm thick all the way through the entire length. It provides an amazing fretting-hand experience for the players who prefer their instrument held in a higher playing position. The 3pc Roasted Maple/Bubinga construction also offers excellent stability and long-term durability.

Nyatoh body

Nyatoh used as the body wood provides a rich mid-low end.

Q58 H-H pickups

Q58 pickups are designed specifically for use in headless guitars. They provide a clearly defined sound, facilitating excellent tonal balance through all frequencies. The lows are powerful without being muddy, and the highs are bright and clear, but never harsh. As a result, every single note within the chord structure is well defined, and clearly audible. These pickups, with their tonal balance, and extremely low noise performance, work extremely well with both digital and analog effects.

Custom string lock

This custom string lock is one-piece unit that features very simple construction. This means the hardware requires less maintenance, is highly durable, and allows for very easy string changes. Additionally, no proprietary string is required, so you can continue to use your favorite gauge and brand.

Mono-Tune bridges

The Mono-Tune bridges offer a wide intonation range so that you can easily set the instrument up for tuning down a whole step or even further. The string height is also easily adjustable, and each saddle generally has less material, which leads to more natural and organic tone.

dyna-MIX10 switching system with Alter Switch

The dyna-MIX 10 offers ten sound variations and can easily switch from humbucker and single coil modes with the mini switch. The power Tap mode provides a realistic single coil sound despite its two humbucker pickup layout.

Slanted frets

All of the frets are equally slanted at an 8-degree angle. Many contemporary players tend to favor a much higher playing positon to execute more effectively, highly technical and intricate techniques like tapping, finger style, and even occasional bass-inspired slap riff. This higher position results in the four fretting fingers naturally tilting slightly inwards. This 8-degree inward tilt of the frets perfectly accommodates this and offers a more natural feeling and comfortably playing guitar.

Roasted Birdseye Maple fretboard

The beautiful Birdseye Maple fretboard imbues this model with an exotic appearance . The fretboard is heat-treated for a balanced attack and rich sustain.

Jescar EVOgold™ frets

Jescar EVOgold™ frets are known for their bright tone, gorgeous appearance, and excellent features such as long-lasting durability and smooth note bending.

Ergonomic body design

The body features a number of strategically placed curves on both the top and back of the instrument. This complex, yet sophisticated design provides maximum playing comfort.

Compact and light-weight, yet resonant body

While it is really compact and light-weight, its non-chambered, solid body provides great sound with rich woody tones.